Page 154 of Dance of Deception

“I want to go out,” I say suddenly.

Carmine finally looks up from his phone. “Out?”

“Yeah.” I push my hair back, watching him. “A date. You know—like a normal couple.”

I feel like an idiot the second I say it. It sounds so needy and pathetic. Instantly, I wish I could take it back, but it’s out there.

Carmine’s expression doesn’t change. If anything, he looks almost bored. “I don’t date.”

“Unless it’s Ciara Marchetti.”

Well, that's out there too.

Good thing I wasn’t hanging on to it or anything since Dove said it the other night.

Carmine’s brow arches. His smirk deepens as he glances up at me. “Jealous much, little dancer?”

I bristle, scowling. I hate that he looks so entertained.

“Tell me,” I snap. “How many?”

His eyes blaze. He’s enjoying this far more than he should. “How many what?”

I cross my arms. “How many women have you done this with?”

He frowns as he tosses his phone aside and rolls to face me, stretching out like a jaguar.

“Donewhat, specifically? Marrying them when my father steps down?—”

“You know what the hell I mean,” I mutter.

Carmine leans in, voice dropping. “Do you imagine that I frequently find women who enjoy the idea of me chasing them down and fucking them senseless?”

Before my mouth can open with a simple “yes”, he reaches over and cups my jaw, pressing my lips together with his thumb.

“Answer that as if you werenotthe sort of woman who actively craves that.”

My face heats instantly.

His smirk sharpens. “You’re the first.”

I huff, feeling petulant now. “Her sister said you had a thing with Ciara.”

Carmine tosses me an unimpressed look. “I never once touched Ciara Marchetti, despite what people around me seem to believe. We grew up in adjoining mafia families. That’s all.”

I search his face, trying to see if he’s lying. But Carmine isn’t the type to lie. He’d rather let the truth burn you alive.

I exhale, letting it go.For now. “Still… I want a date.”

Carmine rolls his eyes. “I told you: I don’t date, Lyra.”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything?”

He gives me a look, and I grin.

“Tell you what. Take me on a real date, and I’ll let you chase me like a lunatic and fuck me like a monster.”

Carmine raises an unimpressed brow. “You mean like I literally just did.”

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